Wire-spoke connection



' j. H. G

WIRE SPOKE RAHAM.

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ED MAR Imissued May 24, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. GRAHAM, OF TOBRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IENTS, TO THE TORRINGTON COMPANY, OF TORBINGTON, CONNECTICUT, A COB- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

WIRE-SPOKE CONNECTION.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissued DIay 24,- 1921,

011511111 No. 1,338,019, dated March 9, 1920, Serial No. 188,434, filed August 27, 1917. Application for reissue filed March 23, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residin at Torrington, in the county of Litch old, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire- Spoke Connections, of which the following is a descriptiom-reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements 1n wire spoke connections.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong and durable connection between the 15, Spoke and hub or between the spoke and mm to prevent the endwise thrust on the spoke from wearing or cutting the same at the point of contact with the rim or hub and at the same time allowing for the ready insertion of the spoke.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and effective connection which can be applied without altering the general construction of the hub or rim.

' In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wheel showing the connection between the spoke and hub.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view. of the connection.

In the usual s oke connection now used the hub is provi ed with an outwardly extending flange having transverse horizontal 86 openings therethrough, the walls of which are straight, and a countersunk portlon in which the head of the spoke fits, preventing the spokes from pulling through the openings. The spoke on the outside of the 0 flange is bent at an angle and the endwise thrust on the spoke causes it to engage a very small portion of the wall of the opening and to also engage the sharp corner of the'opening which cuts and wears away the spoke at one point.

In my improved spoke connection, the hub 1 is preferably provlded with lateral flanges 2, which flanges are formed with pro ections or radially extending flanges 4 surrounding said openings 3 forming a lar r bearing surface for the spoke as will ater' described. As illustrated in the Serial No. 454,904.

cross sectional view (Fig. 2 of the drawings) the walls of these openings curve continuously in the arc of a circle and are disposed sothat the openings taper pro ressively inwardly from the inner face 0 the hub to the outer face of the radially extending flange 4. Preferably these openings are substantially bell-shaped in cross section.

The outer edge of the flange is cut away or flares ogt'wa-rdly as indicated at 6 to dlspense wi h any sharp cutting edge that mlght engage the spoke and cut or wear the same. The spoke 6 is of the usual construction, having the enlarged portion 7 bent at an angle as indicated at 8, and the end beyond the same is provided with the radually enlarged bevel-shaped portion 9, t e walls of which are concaved and are the size of and formed on the same are of a circle as that of the openings in the hub flange. Thus the spoke has a large bearing surface closely fitting the wall of the opening.

By this structure it will be seen that any against the wall of the opening but causes a slight rolling action, so that the wear is on a large surface and there are absolutely no sharp corners for wearing of the spoke.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A spoke connection comprising a hub having a lateral flange provided with a series of transversely rejecting flanges thereon. said hub and anges being provided with continuous openings, thewalls of which form arcs of circles, the outer edges of said flanges flaring outwardly, spokes fitting in said openings, said spokes being formed with bell-shaped heads, the walls of which are of substantially the size and formed on the same are of a circle as the openings in the hub and flange.

2. A spoke connection comprising a hub having a lateral flange provided with a series of transverse openings tapering progressively inwardly from the inner face of the hub to the outer face of the flange, it spoke fitting in each opening, each of said spokes being shaped substantially similarly to and making contact with the walls of the opening throughout its extent.

3. A spoke connection comprising a hub having a lateral flange provided With a 5 series of transverse openings substantially bell-shaped in crossvsection, a spoke fitting in each opening, each of said spokes being formed'with an enlarged head, substantially I bell-shaped in cross section whereby to prevent shearing or pulling out of said head 10 fromzsaid openings.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

JAMES H. GRAHAM. 

